PAUL Sturrock has admitted defeat in his fight to sign players before the loan window closes tomorrow.

The Town boss has several loan players on standby but cannot bring them to the County Ground because of the transfer embargo.

He said: "I have left everybody in the loop, in the know and nobody has got back to me (about the embargo).

"I have got people waiting to come in, but in the end there's nothing I can do. Come Thursday it will be all over."

Town chief executive Martyn Starnes admitted: "If the window didn't close until next week we'd have a much better chance of getting it done, but we've just been beaten by the regulations and the timing unfortunately.

"We have tried. I went to see the Football League to see if there was any relaxation from their position, but they weren't in a position to move within our time scale.

"We want to be able to provide Paul with the best opportunities that we can, but sometimes we just can't make it happen."

Meanwhile, Sturrock has confirmed the club will not appeal against the seven bookings dished out to them by controversial referee Lee Mason at Leeds on Saturday, insisting: "We must get on with it."

Town were hit with a £2,500 fine from the Football League after the clash at Elland Road, but the manager insists Swindon are not a dirty team.

Sturrock has his own system of fines for yellow cards - with players hit in their pockets for dissent - and he is confident discipline will not become an issue with his squad.

He said: "We've been fined, but I see no point in appealing. In normal circumstances you don't benefit anything, you just lose a bit more money.

"We've been pretty tidy this year, this game was just a freak.

"We are not a dirty team in any form or any way.

"We're not anywhere near the top of the crime count as I call it, so it shows that what we put in place is working."

After watching the video of the Leeds match Sturrock maintains his side were harshly treated, but admits complaining further will not aid his team's cause.

He said: "We are going to basically get on with it, but some of the bookings were just stupidity.

"The first one, when they were pushing each other, should have been just a warning.

"Two minutes later there's another fracas and he (Mason) doesn't book them.

"There's a couple of my players that could potentially be fined, but we'll look into that. The rest of the bookings were for tackles.

"When you have 30,000 people shouting and balling it can excite people and I think that's what happened."

Sturrock also revealed the full extent of Town's injury list, with Jamie Vincent definitely out and Hasney Aljofree and Jack Smith both major doubts for the derby with Bristol Rovers.

Striker Barry Corr and centre back Chris Blackburn did not train yesterday, while goalkeeper Phil Smith was due to have an operation on his injured groin.